Automatic scale



June 26, 1923. A 3,460,087

' M. J. WEBER AUTOMATIC SCALE Filed Sept. 27 1920 5 Shee'tS-Shee'; l

June 26, 1923.

M. J. WEBER AUTOMTIQ SCALE my M June 26, 1923.

M. J. WEBER .AUTOMATIC SCALEy l 3 Sheets-Shea?, 3

Filed Sept. 27

Oem?? Patented June 26, 1923;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MTHIAS J, WEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOS, ASSGNOR TO CONTINENTAL SCALE 'WORK OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION` OF ILLINOS.

AUTOIYIATC SCALE.

To allie/10m t may concern.'

Be it knovvn that I, Marinas J. lVnnEn, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of Chicago. in the coun-ty of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Scale, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic weighing scales and Ahas special reference to the combination with such scales of means for effecting mechanical operation "of associatedr devices. The objectof my invention is to provide a scale of the character described Which shall be arranged to supply power to an associated device such as a. movable advertising device Without affecting the accuracy of the Weight.

indications, A

An important feature of my invention is an arrangement which` permits the applied iveight to first effect the mechanicalrmovements desired and which is thereafterV completely disconnected from the mechanically l operated'device so that the scale is free to accurately indicate the applied Weight.

Other important features of my invention relate to means for reducing friction to a minimum and for eliminatingr the detrimental effect of loose connections, all of ivhich assist in accuracy of indications.

` My invention will be more readily understood 'by reference to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification.7 andl in Whichz- Figure l is a front elevation of a platform scale embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical section of the device substantially on the line .(2-2

` 'of Figure. 3;

Figure 3 is acentral vertical section on the line 3 3 of Figure l;

Figure 4f. is a fragmentary vertical section- `on tlie line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 isa fragmentary vertical section on the line. 5-5 of Figure 4:

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the base showing the operating levers;

Figure T is a fragmentary 'side elevation of the advertisement display apparatus;

Figure 8 is a fragmentaryside elevation showing the means for setting and holding the display device in position so that the advertisement can be read; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of thegearing` by which the ive-ight indicating mechanism is operated; and

Figure l() is an enlarged detail of a part of the mechanism for moving the display device.

lln said dranf'ings, l illustrates a scale having a base 2 and provided with a platform 3 upon ivliiclia person can stand to be weighed.

At the rear end of the base a casing 4 rises1 in the upper part of which is arranged an advertising display device 5 'at a suitable height so that the advertisements can be readily read by a person lstanding Aon the platform. c

The idea involved in this invention is to cause a movement of the advertisement device as a person steps on to the platform so that his attention will be called to said ad* vertisement` and yet prevent the operating of the advertising device affecting the 'accuracy of the Weight indications.

The fundamental idea is carried out by providing an element which will be moved by the initial application of the Weight to the scale platform and which, havingl accomplished its function. will be mechanically severed from` all contact or connection With the scale mechanism proper.

From 4this simple explanaticn it Willbe understood that without doubtI many means could be devisedto accomplish this result7 and that the specific means shoivn is merely typical of a suitable means for this purpose.

lllithin the base 2 are suitable scale levers (i and 'l which are hung to the base at their ends upon suitable depending links 8 and knife edge bearings 9 and are linked together at their middle portions by a link l0 in a manner common to such scales.

rFlic platform 2S is provided with depending rigid posts ll which rest upon suitable tl-shaped anti-friction projections or supports Vl2 rigid with said levers in the 'usual manner.

rl"he weight lever 6 has a .central projection 'i3 extending from its rear end to the rear part of the base 2, the rear end of this projection 13 being linked to suitable Weight indicatingv mechanism Within the upper part oit the casing by a, tension rod. 14.

i'ihile any suitable Weight indicating `mechanism might be made use ot to indicate nected to a loiver cross bar 16 o'tl the frame 15.

The 'trame 15 has an uppercross bar 17 which is connected by tivo tension counter-balancing springsltl to an evene-r bar 19 which is pivota'lly connected at its transverse center to the depending end Q of a bar 21 which is supported upon a rigid cross bar Q2 in the asing l by means of a depending rigid support 23 farried b v said cross bar. rl`he rear end of the bar 21 is adjustable by means of a screw threaded through a suitable opening in the bar 22 for adjusting the tensionof the springs 18.

The bar is adjustably mounted in the Y easing` 1 hy'means of brackets 26 and bolts il lthe advertisement display device and also a Weight indicating' disk 30 provided with .an inclined I veriphery'fl, a .portion or which can be seen through a suitable sight openingr 32' 1n the trent ot' the housing` 29.

rlihe disk 1s rif/idly mounted on the D upper end of a vertical shaft carried in suitable bearings in a said cross bar 22.

For rotating;- the disk 30 to indicate the Weight on the platform, l provide a small bevel Wheel rigidly mounted on the vertical shaft 533 and meshingr With a similar berel Wheel 3G carried on av horizontal shaft 37 vvvhich'also carries a suitable spur gear S8 with which a rack 39 meshes. Said rack 39 trame 34 supported on is vertical and is carried .upon the upper end of. an operating' rod 40 -which is connected at its lower end with said cross bar 17. By this means the disk 30 is rotated trom the zero point to a position to indicate the/ Weight ot any article placed upon the platform, the Weight indications, being' arranged in the Atorm ot a scale on the said inclined peripheryT 31, a suitable indicator or arrow 11 being arranged at the middle ot said sight opening 3&3,

4on said shaft so that the, change in the l" .bers are triangular in cross section..

lot the casing 29 pulley to the shalt said cord beineY Wound npen a thixaded cylinder 16 e ied slit of the .veignt L12 ivill notai'l'ect the acinacy of the Weight indications.

rllhc advertisine` display device 5 cemprises a plurality ot rotatable members -l-T arranged in the liront part of the casingr 251.

11s shown, these advertising display niemha Vi n g three faces 48 upon which advertisements can be displayed and Which are long enough to extend across the casing' Q9 which open its front to display the advertisements. ln the form shown there are 4- of these de- -vices if? arranged horizontally and one above the other, and the sight opening 32 is arranged between 'the tvvoV center devices 427. Each of these devices 47 is mounted upon a` horizontal shaft 19 'tor rotation and on each shaft is provideil small pinion 50 meshingl with a gear 51 carried ivithin the casing 29 and by which the device 17 can be rotated.

l provide a series of t'ie ranged in a vertical "ori and op .i connected by interposed pin when the lower 51 is r tated the eral gears and the several devices likewise be rotated.

1' intend that @ne ot the `faces 48 et eachv oft the several devices 47 shall be arranged ina common vertical plane in the' 'iront part irely that scvwill to properly display the advertisements and to assure. the members L17 being` thns held stationaryl provide a setting cam if-l on each shaft 49 having` three deilncssions adapted to receive a cam roller carried 0n a pivotcd lever arme@ and Whicl arm is held by springl 57 so as to hold the. cam roller against the cam and adapted to enter the severalv depressions to hold and setv the display member A57 in the proper position 'to hold one of its vtaces in the common vertical plane.

For rotating; the lower gear :71 to change the positionsof the several display devices 417 to successively display the Vseveraladvertisenients carried thereby. lprovide a horizontal shaft 5T carrying' a pinion 58 in mesh ivith said lovver gear 51 and mounted in suitable bearings in the housing Q9.

For rotating said shaft 57 l provide a vertical push rod 59 extending` doivn through the casing l1, the lovvcr end G0 thereo'l` depending into the rear part ot the base 2.

ivhen the device is at rest4 cession.

Said rod is free to drop a certain distance but is held against dropping further by means of a collar 6l which is adapted to `Contact with a guide member 62 mountedy on a base or floor plate`63 in the casing 4.

vI provide 'suitable mechanismA so that when the rod 59 is lifted it *will rotate the shaft 57 far enough to causethe several devices 47 to rotate far enough to change from one advertisement to the next in suc-v F or lifting said rod 59 I provide an operatinglever 64 pivotally mounted at 65 -lever extends l beneath the platform and .through the base,`having its rear end 66 disposed below the lower end 60- of the rod 59 and adapted when the forward end 67- of this lever is depressed to. be lifted to contactwith vthe said rod 59 and 'lift same far enough to cause the'proper rotation of the shaft57.'.v f

A The pivot 65 is mounted in and projects from`a longitudinal` bar 65a which is rigidly secured to the platform 3 through the medium of rigid lcross bars 65"' which are secured to the rigidposts 11.

. As shown in Figure 3 the rear end 66 of l the lever 64 is normally freeof the lower end 60 of the rod 59 and is adapted toibe lifted into contacttherewith to perform the work of changing theV advertising members 47.v l

c' For Ithe purpose of operating the lever 64 I provide 'an auxiliary' platform 68 upon which, a person will stand in being weighed -and which is movable relative to theuplatform proper 3 as the person steps upon the platform, being adapted to be depressed into Contactl with the upper surface of the platform 3 as-the Weight is received thereon. `The auxiliary 'platform 68 is pivotallv connected at its rear end 69 to the platform 3`pr'oper and the forward end isheld in relatively elevated position by light springs 70, arranged between the auxiliary platform I y68 and the platform proper 3. For depress ing the forward end of the `lever 64 I pro- 'vide a'pivoted strut member 71` in the form of a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on e a ,part 72 which is rigid with the auxiliary plat-form 68 and having `a depending end 7 3 adapted to-contact withl the upper sur face 67 of the lever 64 and-'act as a strut to. depress same. The bell crank lever 6l. is pivoted at its middle portion on a pivot 74 carried by the member 72. The other arm 75 of the bell crank lever 7l carries a pin 76 adaptedto Contact with a pin 77 rigid With and carried by the platform proper, as the auxiliary platform 68 descende, and which tends 'to rotate the bell crank lever 6l in the direction of the arrow -on Figure 5 to swing the bell crank lever in a direction to carry the end 73 off of the end 67 of the lever 64, just at the time that the auxiliary platform 68 reaches the lower limit of itsmovement, or comes into contact with the platform proper 3. The initial-downward movement'of the platform 68 thus pushes down the end 67 of the lever 64 and'raises the rod 59, thus effecting the operation of the advertising devices, and as the platformS reaches the lower limit of its relative movement the bell crank lever is swung out of contact with the rear end 67 of the lever 64 and thereafter the lever 64 is free to return to its original position and the' rear end 66 thereof drops out of contact with the lower end of the rod 59. At this Vtime the full weight is applied to the scale and the disk 30.

F or causing the shaft 57 to be rotated when the rod 59 is lifted'Iprovide a ratchet wheel 78 on the shaft 57 and a spring proper indication is shown by the pressed dog 79 on the upper end of the rod 59. AThe arrangement is such that when the rod 59 is raised by the movement of the lever 64 the ratchet wheel 78 is turned one tooth. The ratioof the gearing is such that this movement of the shaft is sufcient to cause the display members 47 tobe rotated one third of a revolution. ,A

It should be understood that while I have illustrated lan advertising device as Vbeing the device which is operable by the rod 59,

and while I have illustrated a specific .means of operating the lever 64 and dismechanism after the operation thereof has f been completed so that the accuracy of the weight indications will not bc affected bv any changes in the power necessary to operate thecxtraneous device` but will bc inst as free and inst as accurate in its indications as though such extraneous device was not operable by the scale in an'v manner.

It will also be understood that my invention is not limited to the use of an auxiliary platform` which is movable relatively to the platform. proper. but it will be clear to those versed in the art that various modifications of means for operating the lever 64 and causing the mechanical disconnection thereof from the movable element 59 might be made use of, and-consequently I. do not limit nor confinev my invention to I meats?" which the weight is placed, scale levers upon which the platform is supported, means yieldingly holding the platform in elevated position relatively to the levers, an operating lever pivotally mounted between its ends 'upon the platform, one end of the. operating lever arranged to contact with said member for moving same, means carried by the platform for engaging said le :er to move the vsame on its pivot for moving said mem- Vber as the weight is applied to the platform, and means for automatically releaing the lever when the lever has performed itsY function, the operating lever being adapted to drop free of said member when released.

2. The herein described improvement comprising a platform scale having a receiving' platform, means for yieldingly holding said receiving platform in an elevated position, a member to be moved, member operating` means operable by the descent of the receiving platform for engagingand moving said member, means for releasing the operating means as the platform substantially reaches the lower limit ofv its movement, said operating means adapted to automatically move out of contact with said member vwhen released.

3. A weighing scale having a platform and supporting' levers beneath the platforn'i, in combination with spring means yieldingly holding the platform in elevated position, a member to be lifted, an operating lever pivotally mounted between4 its ends,

on the platform and having an end arranged beneath said merhber, a swinging strut carried bythe platform adapted to engage the other end of the operating lever to rforce it down as the platform is initially forced down by a weight, means for releasing the lever from the strut as the platform approaches he lower limit of its movement', said lever adapted to drop freeV of said member when released.

4. fweighing scale having a platform and supporting levers beneath the platform, in combination witha foot plate, spring means yieldingly holding said foot -plate in elevated position, a member to be lifted,

an operatinglever 'pivotally mounted between it's ends on the platform and having an end arranged beneath said member, a swinging strut carried by the foot plate adapted to engage the other end of the opmovement, said lever adapted to dro free of said member when` released, an -said strut adapted to return freely to lever engaging position as the plate is lifted upon the removal of the weight. Y

5. A weighing sca-le having a platform and'supporting levers beneath the plat-form, in combination with a rod to be lifted, an operating lever pivotally mounted between its ends upon said platform, one end being heavier than -the other vand extending bcneath `said vrod for Contact therewith, means yieldingly holding a part of vthe platform in a relatively elevated position, lever operating means carried by said part adapted to engage the lighter end of the lever and force it down as said partis initially forced downby an applied weight and lift said rod, means for releasing the operating lever from said lever operating means as said platform part reaches the lower limit of its relative movement, the lever adapted to move out of contact with said rod when released.

' G. A weighing scale having a .platform and a supporting lever beneath the platform, in combination with a rod to be lifted, i

an operating lever pivotally mounted between its ends`upon s aid platform, one end being heavier than the other and extending beneath'said rod for contact therewith, al

foot plate on the platform,means yieldingly holding the foot plate in a relatively elevated aosition, lever operating means carried by the foot plate adapted to engage the lighter end of the lever and force it down as the foot plate is initially forced down by an applied weight and lift said rod, means for releasing the operating lever from said lever operating means as the foot plate reaches the lower limit of its relative movement, `the lever adapted to move out of contact with said rod when released, and

said lever operating means-adapted to return to lever engaging position the foot plate is released from the applied weight.

7. The herein described improvement comprising, an automatic platform scale having a receiving platform, an associated operable device-having an element to be moved, means yieldingly` holding`the platform in a relatively elevated position, means associated with the platform for moving said element upon the initial depression of the platform due to an applied weight, and means for severing connection between the element and the platform as the platform reaches the lowei` limit. of its movement to permit the scale to accurately rigister the applied weight.

8. The herein described improvement cornprising, an automatic platform scale havinga receiving platform, an associated op-A erable device having an element to be moved, means yieldingly holding the platform in a relatively elevated position, means associated with the. platform for moving said element upon the initial depression of the platforml due t0 an applied Weight, and 5 means for severing connection between the element andfthe platform as the platform reaches the lower limit of its movement to permit the scale to accurately register the applied Weight, and means for automatically resetting said element operating means 10 as the platform risesupon the removal of the Weight. Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 7th day of September, 1920. l

MATHIAS J. WEBER. 

